Glaucoma

Index
What is Glaucoma
Types of Glaucoma
Risk Factors for Glaucoma
Diagnosing Glaucoma
Open Angle Glaucoma Treatment
Narrow Angle/Angle Closure Glaucoma Treatment
Future Directions

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that can lead to progressive loss of vision, often without any symptoms. Visual loss results from damage to the optic nerve, which transmits signals from the eye to the brain, much like an electrical cable. Once nerve fibers are damaged by glaucoma, the information they supply can no longer reach the brain. Peripheral vision is usually lost first. Because central vision is preserved until late in the disease and pain is usually absent, most people with glaucoma don't realize that anything is wrong.

It was once believed that glaucoma is caused by high pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure, or IOP. While IOP plays a large part in glaucoma, it is now considered a major risk factor for the development of the disease. The higher the pressure the more likely one is to get glaucoma. However, 20 to 30 percent of patients with glaucoma have normal intraocular pressures, indicating that other factors must be involved. Nutrition, blood flow, and toxins may all play a part, though details are currently not well understood. Extensive research is being conducted to identify these factors.

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Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is usually broken down into two major categories: open angle glaucoma and closed angle glaucoma. To understand the difference, we must first know a bit about how eye pressure develops. The eye is essentially a hollow sphere filled with fluid. In the front section of the eye, this fluid is called the aqueous humor. The aqueous humor is produced by the specialized cells of the ciliary body, which is located behind the colored part of the eye, called the iris. Fluid then travels through the pupil, the central opening in the iris, to enter the anterior chamber, which is the space in front of the iris and behind the cornea. The cornea and iris meet peripherally to form the drainage angle of the eye. Within this angle is a structure known as the trabecular meshwork, which is the sieve-like entrance to the drainage system of the eye. The aqueous passes through this mesh of tissue, exits the eye, and is collected by veins to return to the bloodstream.

The physician examining your eye can see into the angle using a special mirrored lens. In open angle glaucoma, there is plenty of space between the iris and the cornea, and the aqueous humor has a clear path into the trabecular meshwork. Open angle glaucoma can be further divided into primary and secondary forms. In primary open angle glaucoma, despite the fact that the entrance to the drain is visibly open, there is resistance to the outflow of aqueous humor, as if the drain is clogged somewhere inside. The exact abnormality is not fully understood. The vast majority of people with glaucoma have this form of the disease. Secondary open angle glaucoma occurs when another ocular disease or condition causes increased resistance to the outflow of fluid. Two common types of secondary open angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and pigmentary dispersion syndrome are discussed in greater detail in separate articles. Click the preceding links or the links in the library index to read about these conditions.

In closed angle glaucoma, the entrance to the trabecular meshwork becomes blocked by the iris, which assumes an abnormally forward position. People with primary closed angle glaucoma often have a shorter than average eye in which all the internal structures, including the cornea and the iris, are closer together than normal. This situation causes the drainage angle to become narrow and eventually to close, blocking the flow of aqueous humor from the eye. Unlike symptom-free open angle glaucoma, this condition, sometimes called "narrow angle glaucoma," often presents suddenly, with pain, red eye, tearing, and colored haloes around lights. Vision can be lost quickly, and urgent treatment is required. The goal is to discover the patient with a narrow angle early and to provide treatment, thus preventing an attack of angle closure. As with open angle glaucoma, secondary closed angle glaucoma is caused by other diseases within the eye.

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Risk Factors for Glaucoma

Estimates are that as much as one to two percent of the US population has open angle glaucoma, and that half of those affected have not been diagnosed. A number of risk factors for the development of glaucoma have been identified. Intraocular pressure, as already mentioned, is presently the most significant. With increasing pressure comes increasing risk of glaucoma. Race is another significant factor. African Americans are five to six times more likely than Caucasians to be affected by the disease, which tends to be more severe and progress more quickly in this population. Latinos are also at greater risk than Caucasians. The reasons for these racial differences are not well understood. Having a relative with glaucoma, particularly a first degree relative, i.e. parent or sibling, increases one's risk. The genetics of glaucoma, however, are usually not simple, and there is no way to predict which family members will be affected. Incidence of disease also increases with age. Glaucoma is uncommon under 40, but risk increases with each decade of life.

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Diagnosing Glaucoma

Your physician will perform a complete medical history and eye examination in order to determine your risk factors and search for signs of disease. The entire eye will be carefully evaluated, with special attention paid to the optic nerve, the structure damaged by glaucoma. The optic nerve is viewed through your dilated pupil using a special lens and an ophthalmic microscope. Gonioscopy may also be performed, in which a special mirrored lens in placed on your eye in order to directly examine the drainage angle and trabecular meshwork. The thickness of your cornea may also be measured, as an abnormally thick or thin cornea can affect the accuracy of intraocular pressure measurement. After your exam, if glaucoma is suspected, additional tests may be recommended.

Heidelberg Retinal Tomography, or HRT, uses a laser to create a three-dimensional image of the optic nerve, which is then analyzed by a computer. This allows your physician to better evaluate the structure and shape of the optic nerve, which is altered by glaucoma. Changes in the shape of the optic nerve occur early in glaucoma, often preceding any visual changes, and identification of these changes may be the best way to diagnose disease. By repeating this exam over time, the success of glaucoma treatment can be monitored. Performance of this test usually does not require dilation, and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

Stereoscopic optic nerve photographs are taken with a specialized camera system, providing true, three-dimensional images of the optic nerves. As with the HRT, these images can be repeated over time and examined for signs of progressive nerve damage. In order to obtain clear photos, pupillary dilation is required. This examination usually takes about 45 minutes, including the time required for dilation.

Visual field testing is conducted to evaluate the function of the optic nerve. As glaucoma damage progresses, vision is lost, typically beginning in the periphery and moving toward the center. Computerized visual field devices flash a series of lights in your peripheral vision in order to map out any areas of visual loss. Again, by repeating this test over a period of time, stability or progression of disease can be ascertained and treatment adjusted as necessary. Completion of this test can take anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes, depending upon the exact type of examination your doctor orders. Your eyes will not be dilated for a visual field.

Unfortunately, the diagnosis is glaucoma is not always straightforward, even after all testing is performed. There is significant variation in the appearance of normal optic nerves, with many healthy nerves looking a bit suspicious for glaucoma. Because glaucoma is usually a very slowly progressive disease, it is not uncommon for patients to be watched carefully without treatment while the diagnosis of glaucoma is considered. These 'glaucoma suspects' may be followed for many years before a final diagnosis is made and treatment is initiated. If suspicion is relatively low, 'watchful waiting' avoids the potential risks and side effects of treatment.

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Treating Open Angle Glaucoma

Treatment for glaucoma is individualized for each patient's specific condition. When required, three basic options are available, all of which serve to lower the intraocular pressure. First-line therapy typically involves medication, usually applied topically as eye drops. Medications lower pressure by either decreasing the production of fluid within the eye or by opening the drainage system to allow more fluid out. There are numerous classes of medications available, each with its own set of side effects. Your doctor will suggest medications for you based upon their safety and efficacy, taking your general health and use of other medications into account.

Another treatment option is laser surgery. Known as laser trabeculoplasty, this procedure has been performed since the early 1980s using an argon or diode laser. There is a 60 to 75 percent success rate of lowering intraocular pressure approximately 20 to 30 percent. The treatment effect typically lasts about five years, and can later be repeated if necessary. Trabeculoplasty is often a good early treatment option, avoiding the need for additional medications. The procedure is performed in the physician's office with the patient comfortably seated at a treatment microscope. Over a period of about five minutes, the laser is directed at the drainage channels within the eye, serving to "unclog" the eye's drain and allow more fluid to exit. Postoperatively, one can expect mild discomfort, sensitivity to light, and blurred vsion for a few days. Eye drops are often prescribed to control these symptoms.

It is now possible to perform trabeculoplasty using a different type of laser. Called "selective laser trabeculoplasty", or SLT, this procedure can theoretically be repeated indefintely, whereas standard laser trabeculoplasty can only be repeated once. While this is promising, the efficacy of multiple SLT treatments has not yet been established, and we therefore continue to recommend standard trabeculoplasty to the majority of our patients who are candidates for the procedure. SLT is considered in certain circumstances. After a thorough examination, your physician will determine whether you are a candidate for either procedure.

The final treatment option, when medications and laser therapy have either failed or are no longer tolerated, is glaucoma drainage surgery. A number of techniques are available, all with the same goal of bypassing the damaged, clogged drainage system of the eye. In effect, a surgical drain is created, allowing the aqueous humor to escape the eye without having to pass through the clogged trabecular meshwork. The most commonly performed operation, called a trabeculectomy, often produces very low eye pressures, lower than can be achieved with medication or laser. Such low pressures are often required in advanced glaucoma to prevent further loss of vision. Occasionally, another procedure, known as a tube shunt or glaucoma drainage device, may be required. In this type of surgery, a tiny plastic tube is inserted into the eye to drain fluid. The type of glaucoma and the condition of your eye will influence your physician's decision regarding which procedure to perform. While effective and safe, surgery entails more risks than other therapies, and serious complications, although rare, can occur.

Newer surgical techniques seek to avoid bypassing the eye's natural drainage canal in favor of trying to re-establish a more normal drainage pathway through the damaged trabecular meshwork. Known collectively as 'non-penetrating glaucoma surgery," numerous procedures are being studied and evaluated. While effective at lowering intraocular pressure, these surgical techniques generally cannot achieve pressures as low as with standard trabeculectomy. For now, trabeculectomy remains the procedure of choice for most patients requiring surgery.

Your physician will discuss these options with you and will recommend the treatment he or she believes to be most appropriate for your condition.

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Treating Narrow Angles/Angle Closure Glaucoma

Narrow angles and angle closure glaucoma, while often treated with some of the same medications and surgical procedures as open angle glaucoma, have one notable difference. In these conditions, the problem of a narrow angle caused by the iris and cornea being too close together is often exacerbated by a situation known as pupillary block. Remember that aqueous humor, the fluid in the front of the eye, is produced behind the iris and must pass through the pupil before gaining access into the trabecular meshwork. Due to resistance of flow at the pupil, there is actually a slightly higher pressure behind the iris than in front, and this tends to bow the iris forward, contributing to the already narrow angle, and further blocking outflow of fluid from the eye. This papillary block is commonly the cause of acute angle closure in predisposed individuals. Treatment is aimed at alleviating this condition. A laser is used to create a small opening (or openings) in the periphery of the iris. Known as laser peripheral iridotomy, this procedure creates a lower resistance pathway for aqueous to pass from behind to in front of the iris, preventing papillary block and significantly reducing or eliminating the risk of acute closure of the angle. Iridotomy is effective and safe, with little risk of significant complication. The same procedure is required emergently to treat an actual attack of angle closure, however is much more difficult to perform and may be too late to prevent permanent damage to the eye. Therefore, if your physician finds narrow angles, laser iridotomy may be recommended on a prophylactic basis.

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Future Directions

Much research is ongoing in the field of glaucoma. Genetic testing to help identify those at risk for the disease shows promise. Newer, better surgical techniques are constantly being evaluated to identify procedures which are more effective and safe. Much interest now focuses on medications which may provide what is known as neuroprotection. This term describes the protection of the optic nerve from damage by a number of factors, including poor blood supply, toxins, and inadequate nutrition. Neuroprotective medications are considered quite important, as we know that intraocular pressure is not the only influence on glaucoma progression, yet it is presently the only treatable aspect of the disease. Availability of these drugs will eventually be a major step forward in the treatment of the disease. Presently, Memantine, a drug currently approved by the FDA for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and Alphagan, presently used for IOP reduction, are being studied for possible neuroprotective effects. Results from human trials are not yet conclusive.

If, after reading this information, you still have questions or concerns about glaucoma, please contact us to schedule an appointment for a complete evaluation with one of our doctors.

Additional Information:

These links are offered to provide you with further information about this condition. They will open in a separate browser window.

Glaucoma Research Foundation
National Eye Institute- Glaucoma
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus- Glaucoma
American Glaucoma Society


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